Packing case for reciprocating machine and method of assembling the same

ABSTRACT

A packing case for a plunger or a piston rod of a reciprocating machine comprises packing cups, each packing cup comprising a body with a hole for the passage of the plunger or rod and a sealing ring seat for housing a sealing ring which slidably bear against the plunger or rod. Packing cups are aligned with each other in series. The packing case comprises lube oil ducts for supplying lube oil from an end of the packing case to the sealing ring seat. Each packing cup comprises sectors, each sector comprising at least lube oil duct portions. The packing cups are positionable to bring, one sector at a time in an activation position where some of the lube oil duct portions of the sector are connected with the lube oil duct portions of an adjacent packing cup to form lube oil ducts. The packing cups are lockable.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein correspond toreciprocating machine, such as compressors and more particularly, butnot exclusively, hypercompressors and packing cups and packing cases forthose machines.

It is known that hypercompressors are reciprocating machines where afluid is converted to an extremely high pressure (for example up to 3500bar) because of a plunger compressing the fluid into a chamber;generally they can be single- or multi-staged.

It is known in the state of the art to arrange a sealing and jacketaround the plunger or more generally around a piston rod of areciprocating machine, like compressor or similar.

Such jacket usually comprises a packing case that in turn comprises aplurality of packing cups.

Packing cups usually have a disc-like shape and they are provided with ahole in the centre through which the plunger or rod passes when itreciprocates; the packing cups are assembled aligned and side by sidewith each other.

Each packing cup comprises plunger sealing rings intended to provide aseal on the plunger or rod; such plunger sealing rings have to belubricated in order to avoid frictions and wear against the plunger orrod; to this end the packing case is provided with ducts intended forthe passage of the lubricant; lube ducts are therefore housed in thepacking cups.

For example, with reference to a packing case comprising five packingcups, it is assembled with a first packing cup adjacent to adistribution cup (usually remotely from the compressor chamber) followedby a second, third, fourth and fifth successive packing cups. Usually aring carrier and a pressure breaker cup, adjacent to the compressorchamber are provided adjacent to the fifth packing cup.

Lubrication, for example, provides to bring the lubricant to the secondand fourth plunger sealing rings (placed between the first and thesecond packing cups and between the third and the fourth packing cupsrespectively) and to further lubricate the region between the fifthpacking cup and the ring carrier.

To this end lube oil ducts passing through one or more of the packingcups are provided.

In details, with reference to the known art just described, the ductintended to bring the lubricant to the second plunger sealing ringcomprises an initial portion that passes through the distribution cup,an intermediate portion that parallel—with respect to the plungeraxis—passes through the first packing cup and an end portion radial—withrespect to the plunger axis—ending in the region to be lubricated.

Similarly, the duct intended to bring the lubricant to the fourthplunger sealing ring comprises an initial portion that passes throughthe distribution cup, an intermediate portion that parallel—with respectto the plunger axis—passes through the first, the second and the thirdpacking cups and an end portion—radial with respect to the plungeraxis—ending in the region to be lubricated.

Still similarly, the duct intended to bring the lubricant between thefifth packing cup and the ring carrier comprises an initial portion thatpasses through the distribution cup, an intermediate portion thatparallel—with respect to the plunger axis—passes through the first, thesecond, the third, the fourth and the fifth packing cups and an endportion—radial with respect to the plunger axis—ending in the region tobe lubricated.

From this situation it results that each packing cup, depending on itsposition in the packing case, houses (or not) one or more parts of theintermediate portion of the different ducts: the fact of placing theseveral packing cups side by side in the assembled condition causes theparts of the duct intermediate portions to be joined till forming thecomplete ducts.

The duct intermediate portions are made as through holes passing fromone face to the other one of the packing cup, while the duct endportions are made as radial grooves (with respect to the plunger axis)connected to the relevant duct intermediate portions and ending at theregion to be lubricated.

For instance, in the example just described, the first packing cup isprovided with three holes: each one is a part of the intermediateportion of the first, second, and third ducts respectively intended tobring the lubricant to the second and fourth plunger sealing ring and inthe region between the fifth packing cup and the ring carrierrespectively.

The second packing cup is on the contrary provided with two holes: eachone is a part of the intermediate portion of the second and third ductsrespectively intended to bring the lubricant to the fourth plungersealing ring and in the region between the fifth packing cup and thering carrier respectively; the second packing cup is further providedwith a radial groove, which is the end portion of the first duct.

The third packing cup is provided with two holes: each one is a part ofthe intermediate portion of the second and third ducts respectivelyintended to bring the lubricant to the fourth plunger sealing ring andin the region between the fifth packing cup and the ring carrierrespectively.

The fourth packing cup is on the contrary provided with one hole as apart of the intermediate portion of the third duct intended to bring thelubricant in the region between the fifth packing cup and the ringcarrier; the fourth packing cup is further provided with a radialgroove, which is the end portion of the second duct.

Finally the fifth packing cup is provided with one hole as a part of theintermediate portion of the third duct intended to bring the lubricantin the region between the fifth packing cup and the ring carrier which,on its turn, comprises a radial groove.

From such exemplary situation it is easy to understand how each packingcup is unique, meaning that, once its position inside the packing caseis established, it has to comprise certain ducts and no other ones.

Therefore, from the above, a first drawback of the known solutions isclear, which leads to produce each packing cup in a different mannerdepending on its position in the packing case; from this derives theneed of having a plurality of single (first, second, third etc) packingcups in stock if it is necessary to replace one of them for maintenancereasons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Therefore there is a general need for an improved packing case forreciprocating machines.

An important idea is to make the packing cups all equal to each other,and potentially to reduce manufacturing and warehousing costs.

Another important idea is a method of creating a plurality of service orauxiliary fluid ducts of different length and/or configuration in amachine, more particularly, a reciprocating machine, comprising thesteps of: A) providing a plurality of modules incorporating one or moreportions of duct, B) integrating the plurality of modules in acorresponding plurality of components, and C) positioning the componentsof said plurality adjacent to each other; wherein each of the componentsintegrates a set of modules of different types; wherein at least one oronly one of the modules of each component is used for creating serviceor auxiliary fluid ducts.

Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein correspond to apacking case for a reciprocating machine; such packing case is able toprovide a seal along and around at least a part of a movable plunger orpiston rod of the reciprocating machine; the packing case comprises aplurality of packing cups, each packing cup comprising on its turn abody with a hole for the passage of the plunger or rod and a sealingring seat for housing a sealing ring which slidably bear against theplunger or rod to provide sealing; said packing cups are aligned witheach other in series relative to the respective holes for the passage ofthe plunger or rod; the packing case comprises a plurality of lube oilducts for supplying lube oil from an end of the packing case in an areaof sealing ring seat.

According to the idea above, it is provided that all the packing cupsare identical each other; each packing cup comprises sectors angularlyoffset with each other, each sector being provided at least by lube oilduct portions, the packing cups being selectively positionable with eachother to bring, for each packing cup, one sector at a time in anactivation position; in such activation position at least some of thelube oil duct portions of said sector is operatively connected with thelube oil duct portions of a sector in the activation position of anadjacent packing cup so as to form said lube oil ducts; once positioned,the packing cups can be locked each by each in a position correspondingto the activation position of a chosen circular sector.

In this way it is possible to have a packing case composed of allidentical packing cups, which, during an assembly operation of thepacking case, are placed, each by each, in different positions withrespect to each other: in said positions one sector for each packing cupis activated (and—in use—supplied by lube oil) so that to form the wholelube oil ducts of the packing case itself.

It is therefore possible to overcome the above cited problems of theprior art, since it is possible to have only one kind of packing cupused for the entire packing case.

Manufacturing problems, availability and cost problems related to theknown art have therefore brilliantly overcome by the above mentionedidea: only some lube oil duct portions for each sector of each packingcup will be active (that is, in fluid communication between one packingcup and another one and—in use—supplied by lubricant) and it will bepossible to generate different paths of each lube oil duct by usingalways the same type of packing cup, suitably positioned before lockingit in position, such to activate only one of the available sectors foreach packing cup, depending to the position of the same packing cup inthe packing case.

The remaining lube oil duct portions for each sector of each packing cupthat are not in the activation position are not supplied by lubricant.

Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein correspond to apacking cup for a packing case of reciprocating machines, comprising abody with a hole for the passage of a plunger or rod of thereciprocating machine, said hole having a first longitudinal axis, asealing ring seat for housing a sealing ring which slidably bear againstthe plunger or rod to provide sealing, wherein the packing cup comprisessectors angularly offset with each other, each sector being provided atleast by lube oil duct portions, in each sector of the packing cup aplurality of available positions being grouped, every available positionof such plurality being lined on the same circumference having itscenter on said first axis, each available position of such pluralitybeing used for one between: an axial lube oil duct portion extendingbetween opposed faces of said packing cup, a radial lube oil ductportion, more particularly a radial groove, extending radially to thesealing ring seat of the packing cup, a stopping wall, in which, foreach packing cup, the number of sectors is at least equal or major thanthe number of available positions of each sector, in which differentsectors of the same packing cup have said available positions used for anumber of axial lube oil duct portions decreasing from a maximum numberequal to the number of sectors, at least one of the remaining availablepositions of each sector being used for a a radial lube oil ductportion, more particularly a radial groove.

Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein correspond to areciprocating machine, in particular a compressor, an hypercompressor orthe like, provided by such a packing case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutea part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention and, together with the detailed description, explainthese embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of part of a reciprocating machineprovided with a packing case;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of one packing cup of the packing caseof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows perspective and exploded view of the packing case of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 shows, in transparency, lube ducts formed in the packing case ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of part of a reciprocating machineprovided with the packing case of FIG. 1 and a surrounding sheath; and

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of exemplary embodiments refers to theaccompanying drawings.

The following description does not limit the invention. Instead, thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included inat least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, theappearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” invarious places throughout the specification is not necessarily referringto the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

According to the idea herein described, the method of creating aplurality of service or auxiliary fluid ducts of different length and/orconfiguration in a machine, more particularly a reciprocating machine,comprising the steps of: A) providing a plurality of modulesincorporating one or more portions of duct, B) integrating the pluralityof modules in a corresponding plurality of components, and C)positioning the components of said plurality adjacent to each other;each of the components integrates a set of modules of different typesand at least one or only one of the modules of each component is usedfor creating service or auxiliary fluid ducts.

In general such service or auxiliary fluid ducts can be oil or lubricantor also different fluid that reach different areas of the machine byfollowing a plurality of fluid ducts.

In an embodiment, each of the components integrates a set of modules ofdifferent types at a corresponding set of angular positions; and, atstep C above, each of the components is rotated before being positionedso as to align at least one or only one of its modules with at least oneor only one of the modules of adjacent components.

In an embodiment, all of the components of said plurality are identicaland each of the components of said plurality integrates the same set ofmodules of different types.

In the following said a method will be described with reference to theattached figures; in the exemplary embodiment herein below described,the above mentioned “components” are embodied by packing cups, “modules”are embodied by sectors, and the service or auxiliary fluid is oil orlubricant.

With reference to FIG. 1 enclosed, a sectional view of part of areciprocating machine provided with a packing case according to a firstembodiment is shown.

The packing case 1 serves for providing a seal along and around at leasta part of a movable plunger 2 (or piston rod) of the reciprocatingmachine (not shown in its entirety).

The packing case 1 comprises at least a plurality of packing cups, inthis non limiting example there are five packing cups 11A-11E, althougha different number of them is provided in different embodiments (notshown) of the subject matter herein disclosed.

The packing case 1 further comprises a distribution cup 5, adjacent to afirst packing cup 11A, and a ring carrier 6, adjacent to the lastpacking cup 11E.

The distribution cup 5 is provided by one fixed lubricant supply duct51, on its turn coupled with a lubricant source (not shown) such alubricant tank, a lubricant pump, a lubricant piping or similar.

With reference also to FIGS. 2 and 3, each packing cup 11A-11E comprisesa body 12 with a hole 13 for the passage of the plunger or rod 2.

The shape of the body is circular, as shown, with the hole 13 having thesame center of the body; more in general, other different shapes thanthe ones shown here could be also used.

Each packing cup 11A-11E further comprises a sealing ring seat 14 forhousing a sealing ring 15 (see FIG. 1). The latter surrounds the hole 13for the plunger 2 and, in an assembled condition, slidably bear againstthe plunger 2 itself to provide sealing.

As can be best seen in FIG. 1 or in the exploded view of FIG. 4, in thepacking case 1 the packing cups 11A-11E are aligned with each other inseries relative to the respective holes 13 for the passage of theplunger or rod 2.

The packing case 1 further comprises a plurality of lube oil ducts A, B,C for supplying lube oil (or—more generally—lubricant) from an end ofthe packing case in an area of the sealing ring seat 14, in order tolubricate the latter and/or the sealing ring 15.

In the non limiting example, there are three lube oil ducts A, B, C (seealso FIG. 5): a first lube oil duct A for supplying lubricant into anarea of the (second) sealing ring seat 14 of the second packing cup 11B,a second lube oil duct B for supplying lubricant into an area of the(fourth) sealing ring seat 14 of the fourth packing cup 11D a third lubeoil duct C for supplying lubricant into an area between the fifthpacking cup 11E and the ring carrier 5.

According to the idea herein described, and as can be seen in FIG. 4,all the packing cups 11A-11E of the packing case 1 are identical eachother, so as obtain the above mentioned advantages.

To this extent and for allowing to create the different lube oil ductsA,B,C, each packing cup 11A-11E comprises sectors 31, 32, 33 angularlyoffset with each other, each sector 31, 32, 33 comprising at least lubeoil duct portions 41,42.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 only the packing cup 11A is shown, the remaining beingidentical to this one.

Particularly, in FIG. 3, such sectors 31, 32, 33 are highlighted bymeans of dashed lines indicating their position on the packing cup 11A;in FIG. 2 the sectors 31, 32, 33, though not highlighted, arenevertheless present, since those “sectors” are merely areas of thepacking cup 11A itself.

The packing cups 11A-11E are selectively positionable with each other tobring, for each packing cup 11A-11E, one sector 31, 32, 33 at a time inan “activation position”.

Particularly, when each sector is a circular sector 31, 32, 33, thepacking cups 11 are selectively positionable with each other by means ofa rotation around a first axis coincident to a central longitudinal axisX of the hole 13 for the plunger or rod 2.

In the activation position at least some of the lube oil duct portions41, 42 of said sector 31, 32, 33 are operatively connected with the lubeoil duct portions 41, 42 of a sector 31, 32, 33 in the activationcondition of an adjacent packing cup 11A-11E so as to form said lube oilducts A, B, C.

During operation, the lube oil duct portions 41, 42 that are in theactivation position are supplied by lubricant by means of the fixedlubricant supply duct 51 of the distribution cup 5; remaining oil ductportions of sectors in a non-activation position (every positiondifferent than the activation position) are not supplied by lubricant oroil.

The packing cups 11A-11E are then lockable each by each at one positioncorresponding to the activation position of a circular sector 31, 32, 33of the packing cup, in a way that will be described later on.

More particularly, for each sector 31, 32, 33 of each packing cup11A-11E a plurality of available positions are grouped, every availableposition of such plurality being lined on the same circumference havingits center on said first axis X.

Looking at FIG. 3, for clarification extent, there are highlighted, fortwo sector, namely 31, 33, the available positions, shown as dashedcircles; available positions are therefore areas of one sector that arelined on the same circumference having its center on said first axis X.

All the available positions of all the sectors are on the samecircumference, while all such circumferences of different packing cupshave all the center on the first axis X and the same radius.

Each available position of such plurality is used for one between: anaxial lube oil duct portion 41, extending between opposed faces of thepacking cup 11A-11E, a radial lube oil duct portion, extending radiallyto the sealing ring seat 14 of the same packing cup 11A-11E, a stoppingwall 43.

The radial lube oil duct portion is a radial groove 42.

For example, looking at FIG. 3, sector 31 has all the availablepositions (three in this example) used for axial lube oil duct portions41, while sector 33 has one available position used for an axial lubeoil duct portion 41, one used for a radial groove 42 and one used for astopping wall 43. The remaining sector 32 (in which the availablepositions are not highlighted) has two available positions used for aaxial lube oil duct portions 41 and one used for a radial groove 42.

During an assembly operation of the packing case 1, the packing cups11A-11E are placed, each by each, in different (in this example,angular) positions with respect to each other: in said positions onesector for each packing cup is activated (and—in use—supplied by lubeoil), and, in major detail, at least some of the duct portions 41, 42 ofsaid sector are supplied by oil or lubricant: in this way, activatingonly one of the available sectors for each packing cup (depending to theposition of the same packing cup in the packing case), it is possible torealize the whole lube oil ducts A, B, C of the packing case 1 itself.

More particularly, for each packing cup 11A-11E, the number of sectors31-33 is at least equal, or major, than the number of availablepositions of each sector; to this extent in FIG. 4 there is shown indashed lines an additional, optional, spare sector, which, in thisexample is not in use.

It has to be noted that different sectors 31, 32, 33 of the same packingcup 11 have said available positions used for a number of axial lube oilduct portions 41 decreasing from a maximum number equal to the number oflube oil ducts A, B, C of the packing case 1.

So, for example, if the number of lube oil ducts A, B, C is three, thenthere will be a sector having three axial lube oil duct portions 41,another sector having two axial

lube oil duct portions 41, and another sector having one axial lube oilduct portions 41.

In this case, at least one of the remaining available positions of eachsector 31, 32, 33 is used for a a radial lube oil duct portion, such asa radial groove 42.

When assembling the packing case 1, the packing cups 11A-11E asdescribed are assembled, starting from a first packing cup 11A until alast packing cup 11E, and the first packing cup 11A has in theactivation position a sector, 31, having a maximum number of axial lubeoil duct portion 41, while the last packing cup 11E has in theactivation position a minimum number of axial lube oil duct portion 41.

Remaining intermediate packing cups 11B, 11C, 11D between the first 11Aand the last 11E packing cup, have in said activation position, sectors31, 32, 33 provided by a number of axial lube oil duct portion 41 equalor less that the ones 41 of the immediately preceding packing cup in aprogression starting from the first 11A to the last 11E packing cup.

In this way it is possible to align axial lube oil duct portion 41 ofadjacent packing cups 11A-11E for realizing a number of lube oil ductsA, B, C that decreases from the first 11A to the last 11E packing cup ofsaid packing case 1.

In this way, as can best be seen in FIG. 5, each lube oil duct A, B, Cis formed by lube oil duct portions 41,42 of different packing cupssectors in the activation position: particularly each oil duct A, B, Ccomprises one or more axial lube oil duct portions 41 and one radialgroove 42.

It can be noted in the non limiting example, that lube oil duct A isformed by one axial lube oil duct portions 41 (of packing cup 11A) andone radial groove 42 (of packing cup 11B); lube oil duct B is formed bythree axial lube oil duct portions 41 (of packing cup 11A, 11B, 11C) andone radial groove 42 (of packing cup 11D); lube oil duct C is formed byfive axial lube oil duct portions 41 (of packing cup 11A-11E) and oneradial groove 42 (provided on the ring carrier 6).

Looking at the figures, in the non limiting example of the presentembodiment, the whole number of lube oil ducts decreases from three toone starting from the first packing cup 11A to the last 11E.

In operation, the lube oil duct portions 41,42 in the activationposition of the first packing cup 11A are aligned with the fixedlubricant supply duct 51 of the distribution cup 5, so that they can besupplied by the latter; the fixed lubricant supply duct 51 can be eitherin form of one single duct, or in form of a multiple channel duct.

As a matter of fact, in this preferred embodiment, the packing comprisesfive packing cup and three lube oil ducts A,B,C, and, in turn, eachpacking cup 11 comprises a first 31, a second 32 and a third 33angularly offset circular sectors.

In this embodiment, the first circular sector 31 comprises three axialportions of lube oil ducts 41, the second circular sector 32 comprisestwo lube oil duct portions 41 and a radial lube oil duct portion, moreparticularly a radial groove 42, and the third circular sector 33comprises one lube oil duct portion 41, one radial lube oil ductportion, more particularly a radial groove 42 and one stopping wall 43.

In an embodiment, when no spare sectors are provided and in the case ofthree sectors as already described, the third 33 circular sector isarranged between the second 32 and the first circular sector 31, rotatedby 90° with respect to both of them.

It has to be noted that, in the preferred solution, the axial portion ofthe lube oil duct 41 comprises a through hole passing between twoopposite faces of the body 12 of the packing cup 11A-11E arrangedparallel to the first axis of the hole 13 for the plunger or rod 2 andthe radial lube oil duct portion 42 comprises a groove made on a face ofthe body 12 of the packing cup 11A-11E and arranged radially withrespect to the first axis of the hole 13 for the plunger or rod.

In an embodiment, the body 12 of each packing cup 11A-11E comprises apacking cup internal part 12A and a packing cup external part 12Bsurrounding the packing cup internal part.

Said two part 12A and 12B can be separated and coupled together to theextent of forming the body 12.

In this embodiment, sectors 31, 32, 33 are provided at said packing cupinternal part 12A, as shown in the figures.

In order to lock in position the packing cups 11A-11E, blocking elementsare provided; said blocking elements are suitable for coupling eachpacking cup 11A-11E with at least one between the distribution cup 5 orthe ring carrier 6.

More particularly, looking at FIG. 4, as in the example shown, suchblocking elements are suitable for coupling each packing cup 11A-11Ewith the distribution cup 5.

More particularly, the blocking elements comprises at least one, in anembodiment two, tie rod 71 and respective tie rod seats 72 of eachpacking cup 11A-11E, in which the tie rod 71 is housed.

Still more particularly, the blocking elements comprises also at leastone, in an embodiment two, locating pin 73, which helps in the assemblyoperation.

Each packing cup 11A-11E comprises at least one, more particularly morethan one, still more particularly four, tie rod seats 72 so to allow forlocking the packing cups 11A-11E in a preferred angle position.

In this non limiting example each packing cup 11A-11E can be locked inposition at interval of 45° of rotation, so as to have one chosen sectorat a time in the activation position.

The packing case 1, in operation, will be cooled.

Reference is made now to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In an embodiment, in the assembled condition, at least between thepacking cup external parts 12B of a pair of adjacent packing cups11A-11E a passageway 91 is provided for a fluid coolant, that, in thisway, became in contact with a large surface area of the packing cupexternal parts 12B, for a better cooling effect.

This can be obtained, for example, by having a different thicknessbetween the body external part 12B and the internal part 12A, as shownin the detail of FIG. 7.

In an embodiment, body internal parts 12A of each packing cup 11A-11Eare in contact each other when the packing case 1 is assembled; thethinner external parts 12B of each packing cup 11A-11E in this conditionrests at a certain distance, so creating the passageway 91, in whichfluid coolant can pass.

The packing case 1 further comprises an external sheath 8, that in theexample of FIG. 6, houses the packing cups 11A-11E as well as the ringcarrier 6 and part of the distribution cup 5, which closes one end ofthe external sheath 8.

The external sheath 8 is provided at least by a coolant inlet 81, inoperation connected to a coolant source, and by a coolant outlet, inoperation connected to a coolant discharge.

For allowing fluid coolant passing into contact with the major area ofthe packing cups, so as to maximize the cooling effect, a labyrinth likeflow path of the coolant is provided (shown by arrows of FIG. 6).

To this extent each packing cup 11A-11E is provided by coolant holes 92,shown also in FIG. 2; coolant holes 92 are through holes passing betweentwo opposite faces of the body external part 12B of each packing cup11A-11E, still more particularly arranged parallel to the first axis ofthe hole 13 for the plunger or rod 2.

When the packing cup is assembled, coolant holes 92 are in fluidcommunication with the passageway 91 formed between two adjacent packingcups 11A-11E.

In order to realize the labyrinth like flow path, plugs 93 are provided,that closes only some coolant holes 92 of a packing cup 11A-11E: forexample closing by plugs 93 alternatively positioned holes 92 of twoadjacent packing cups, the coolant flows in the passageway 91 in contactwith substantially the entire surface of the two adjacent packing cups,for an optimal cooling.

Using plugs 93 allows to close only chosen holes 92 in function of theangular position of each packing cup and its position in the packingcase 1.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any personskilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and usingany devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. Thepatentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and mayinclude other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Suchother examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if theyhave structural elements that do not differ from the literal language ofthe claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements withinsubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of creating a plurality of service orauxiliary fluid ducts of different length and/or configuration in amachine the method comprising: providing a plurality of modulesincorporating one or more portions of duct, integrating the plurality ofmodules in a corresponding plurality of components, and positioning thecomponents of said plurality adjacent to each other; wherein each of thecomponents integrates a set of modules of different types; and whereinat least one or only one of the modules of each component is used forcreating service or auxiliary fluid ducts.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein each of the components integrates a set of modules of differenttypes at a corresponding set of angular positions; wherein thepositioning of the components adjacent to each other further compriseseach of the components being rotated before being positioned so as toalign at least one or only one of its modules with at least one or onlyone of the modules of adjacent components.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein all the components of said plurality are identical and each ofthe components of said plurality integrates the same set of modules ofdifferent types.
 4. A packing case for a reciprocating machine toprovide a seal along and around at least a part of a movable plunger orpiston rod of the reciprocating machine, comprising: a plurality ofpacking cups wherein each packing cup comprises: a body with a hole forthe passage of the plunger or rod a sealing ring seat for housing asealing ring which slidably bear against the plunger or rod to providesealing, said packing cups being aligned with each other in seriesrelative to the respective holes for the passage of the plunger or rod;said packing case comprising a plurality of lube oil ducts for supplyinglube oil from an end of the packing case in an area of sealing ringseat; wherein all the packing cups of the packing case are identicaleach other; each packing cup comprises sectors angularly offset witheach other, each sector comprising at least lube oil duct portions; thepacking cups being selectively positionable with each other to bring,for each packing cup, one sector at a time in an activation position, insuch activation position at least some of the lube oil duct portions ofsaid sector being operatively connected with the lube oil duct portionsof a sector in the activation condition of an adjacent packing cup so asto form said lube oil ducts; and the packing cups being lockable each byeach at one position corresponding to the activation position of acircular sector.
 5. The packing case of claim 4, further comprising adistribution cup provided at least by one fixed lubricant supply duct,said activation position corresponding to a position wherein at leastsome of the lube oil duct portions of a sector in an activation positionare in fluid communication with said fixed lubricant supply duct.
 6. Thepacking case of claim 4, wherein each sector is a circular sector, thepacking cups being selectively positionable with each other by arotation around a first axis coincident to a central longitudinal axisof the hole for the plunger or rod.
 7. The packing case of claim 6,wherein for each sector of each packing cup a plurality of availablepositions are grouped; every available position of such plurality beinglined on the same circumference having its center on said first axis;each available position of such plurality being used for one between: anaxial lube oil duct portion extending between opposed faces of saidpacking cup, a radial lube oil duct portion extending radially to thesealing ring seat of the packing cup, a stopping wall; wherein, for eachpacking cup, the number of sectors is at least equal or major than thenumber of lube oil ducts of the packing case; wherein different sectorsof the same packing cup have said available positions used for a numberof axial lube oil duct portions decreasing from a maximum number equalto the number of lube oil ducts of the packing case, at least one of theremaining available positions of each sector being used for a radiallube oil duct portion; said packing cups being assembled to form thepacking case, starting from a first packing cup until a last packingcup; wherein the first packing cup has in said activation position asector having a maximum number of axial lube oil duct portion; said lastpacking cup having in said activation position a minimum number of axiallube oil duct portion; remaining intermediate packing cups between thefirst and the last packing cup, having, in said activation position,sectors provided by a number of axial lube oil duct portion equal orless that the ones of the immediately preceding packing cup in aprogression starting from the first to the last packing cup so as toalign axial lube oil duct portion of adjacent packing cups for realizinga number of lube oil ducts decreasing from the first to the last packingcup of said packing case.
 8. The packing case of claim 7, wherein thepacking case comprises five packing cup and three lube oil ducts, and,in turn, each packing cup comprises a first, a second and a thirdangularly offset circular sectors, wherein: the first circular sectorcomprises three axial portions of lube oil ducts, the second circularsector comprises two lube oil duct portions and a radial lube oil ductportion, the third circular sector comprises one lube oil duct portion,one radial lube oil duct portion and one stopping wall.
 9. The packingcase of claim 6, wherein the axial portion of the lube oil ductcomprises a through hole passing between two opposite faces of the bodyof the packing cup arranged parallel to the first axis of the hole forthe plunger or rod and the radial lube oil duct portion comprises agroove made on a face of the body of the packing cup and arrangedradially with respect to the first axis of the hole for the plunger orrod.
 10. The packing case of claim 4, comprising blocking elements forfixing in position each packing cup.
 11. The packing case of claim 4,wherein the body of each packing cup comprises a packing cup internalpart and a packing cup external part surrounding the packing cupinternal part, said sectors being provided at said packing cup internalpart.
 12. The packing case of claim 11, wherein in the assembledcondition, between the packing cup external parts of a pair of adjacentpacking cups a hollow passageway is made for a fluid coolant.
 13. Thepacking case of claim 11, further comprises an external sheath thathouses at least the packing cups, said external sheath being provided atleast by a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, coolant holes beingprovided in each packing cup as through holes passing between twoopposite faces of the body external part of each packing cup, at leastpart of said coolant holes of each packing cup being in fluidcommunication with said passageway.
 14. The packing case of claim 13,wherein, in an operating condition at least some of said coolant holesof each packing cup are closed by plugs, so as to provide a labyrinthlike flow path of a coolant fluid in the packing case between saidcoolant inlet and said coolant outlet.
 15. A packing cup for a packingcase of reciprocating machines, comprising: a body with a hole for thepassage of a plunger or rod of the reciprocating machine, said holehaving a first longitudinal axis, a sealing ring seat for housing asealing ring which slidably bear against the plunger or rod to providesealing, wherein: said packing cup comprises sectors angularly offsetwith each other, each sector being provided at least by lube oil ductportions in each sector of the packing cup a plurality of availablepositions being grouped; every available position of such pluralitybeing lined on the same circumference having its center on said firstaxis; each available position of such plurality being used for onebetween: an axial lube oil duct portion extending between opposed facesof said packing cup, a radial lube oil duct portion extending radiallyto the sealing ring seat of the packing cup, a stopping wall; whereindifferent sectors of the same packing cup have said available positionsused for a number of axial lube oil duct portions decreasing from amaximum number equal to the number of sectors, at least one of theremaining available positions of each sector being used for a radiallube oil duct portion.
 16. The packing cup of claim 15, comprisingfirst, a second and a third angularly offset circular sectors, wherein:the first circular sector comprises three axial portions of lube oilducts, the second circular sector comprises two lube oil duct portionsand a radial lube oil duct portion the third circular sector comprisesone lube oil duct portion, one radial lube oil duct portion and onestopping wall.
 17. The packing cup of claim 15, comprising a packing cupinternal part and a packing cup external part surrounding the packingcup internal part, said sectors being provided at said packing cupinternal part.
 18. The packing machine of claim 4, wherein the packingmachine is associated with a reciprocating machine.